In 1950, a train left Rockwood heading north with some of the small city’s finest young men.
“Oh yes, we rode on the train,” said Bill Kirby. “The first time I ever been away from home.”
“Uncle Sam needed me,” he explained. The Korean Conflict had begun.
A picture of the group shows a mixture of expressions — jovial smiles of boys that didn’t seem to fear the future, and others who appeared anxious, maybe even holding back tears.

A house on Old Roane Street in Harriman was put under quarantine and a woman was arrested last week after police said several “one-pot” meth labs were discovered there.
Casey Mills, 19, is charged with manufacture, sale or delivery of methamphetamine.

According to the warrant, police were dispatched to 1637 Old Roane Street after the landlord claimed he found a meth lab behind the storage building.
Officer Brian D. Turner said he observed an odor commonly associated with meth-making when he stepped inside the house.

The state appears to be reconsidering its stance on proposed design changes to westbound Exit 350 on Interstate 40.
The original change called for the elimination of a right merge lane toward Harriman.
A red light has been approved at the intersection, but plans to eliminate a right lane that merges onto Pine Ridge Road heading to Harriman proper didn’t make sense to many people.
“The people are against doing that, just like we are,” said Harriman Councilman Lonnie Wright.

Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton said Thursday he has yet to hear back from the FBI about the outcome of an investigation into allegations that inmates were being paid by jailers to beat up other inmates.

“I don’t think there’s anything to it,” the sheriff said. “I just think we got a habitual liar that’s making his allegations to try to manipulate the system.”
Stockton said the allegations were made by Charles Daniel Mullins, whose rap sheet includes rape, theft and other charges.

Kingston City Council members will have extra insight into city budget matters throughout the fiscal year after they passed an ordinance establishing a financial review committee.
According to Mayor Troy Beets, the committee will have no decision-making power, but will act as a liaison between council and city financial planners. The committee will consist of two council members, the city manager, the city budget officer, plus an administrative employee.